1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph. The play is set in New York City in the late 1980's right when the HIV/AIDS epidemic hit. The play centers around the Gay mens community that was impacted the most during this epidemic. We follow Ned Weeks and his lover Felix as they come into contact with this virus and it takes the lives of many of their friends.
2. What is the intrusion? I would say that the intrusion is right when they play starts and Craig dies. This death starts the play off and prompts the conversation around HIV/AIDS. This then connects Dr. Emma and Ned who is our main character and just so happens to be in the office waiting room when Craig comes in first for a check up and then later brought in by his lover Bruce for his sudden health decline and eventual death. After this dramatic situation unfolds Dr. Emma asks Ned to be a sort of spokesperson for the Gay community surrounding this epidemic. It is her hope that once the men are educated about these perils they will stop having sex and therefore stop transmitting this disease. She does not know what causes it but rightfully thinks it is transmitted through sex. Once Craig dies Bruce joins forces with Ned and other members of their scene to create an organization that raises funds, awareness, and promotes information surrounding this disease.
3. What is the unique factor? The unique factor is that Ned Weeks reaches out to Dr. Emma to talk to her about the Times article he read about concerning HIV/AIDS. He comes to her office to gather more information about the epidemic but comes out a spokesman. His connection to Dr. Emma prompts the start of the story.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play? -Will felix live? -Will the Governor finally acknowledge the epidemic? - Will this get under control? -Will Emma get her research funded? -Will the Gay community recover?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it. 1.) Known to many- The Gay community is not considered important by the rest of the community and therefore is ignored when they have an epidemic happening in it. 2. Known to a few- HIV/AIDS is transmitted through sex.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be. I would say the play is extremely theatrical throughout the entirety. If I had to choose a most theatrical moment I would pin point two moments. The first would be when Bruce rushes in with Craig as he is dying at the very beginning of the play. The second most theatrical moment I would name is Felix's demise at the end of the play. They do not say he is dead but the reader is left open to understand that is what happens. It destroys the reader because of Ned's struggle and sadness that will come from it. He has worked so hard for so long for this cause and finally finds love and then loses it to this epidemic he has fought so hard against seemingly alone.
7. List some of the themes of the play. Diversity, Sexuality, Love, friendship, family relationships, voices, courage, bravery, death, disease, AIDS, New York, friendship, etc
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants? Ned wants his friends to be okay. He does not want to die and he does not want to watch anyone else die. He also wants to find love and live a happy life. The things that get in the way are the death of Felix and his friends. The other guys inability to believe that something is being transmitted through sex and peoples refusal to change their ways to stay safe. In this situation it seems there is "Me against myself" and "Me against the universe."
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play. "The Normal Heart" Is the title of the play. I think this is a direct response to how the gay community was treated during this time. A big thing that was discussed throughout the play was that gay men showed each other love through sex. They identified with the ability to be sexually free because for so long they had to be ashamed and shy of their sexuality. Ned is confronted by Felix in the play who basically says no one is unable to love. People just tell themselves they are not worthy or cannot love. I think Ned finds that this is true and finds himself falling in love with Felix. He is not just being sexually free he actually develops a connection with him. At the same time this is happening the world is telling him that he is wrong for loving another man. His brother looks down on him. The governor will not meet with them or proclaim a state of emergency over the HIV epidemic. Ronald Reagan refuses to talk about anything gay. No one will write about the epidemic and no one will help them. This title helps us understand his mindset of "I am normal." Ned told his brother numerous times how he wanted Ben Weeks to be able to look at him as an equal. He wanted people to look at him as not being sick just as being himself. "The normal heart" states just what he is. He might be gay but he has a normal heart just like everyone else. He loves and bleeds just like everyone else. Some important images are 1. Hearts. 2. Their acronym- so many guys were afraid to use the whole name of their organization on the letter head but then when they switch to the acronym their letters would not get accepted by the post office. 3. The purple lesions and that cancer that spread and infects everyone he is close to. 4. The $2,000,000.00 mansion Ben Weeks is building but he will not help his brother fight this cause.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play. There are a couple of family relationships that are explored. 1. We have Ned and Ben weeks who have a close yet strained relationship from Ben's inability to accept Ned as an equal instead of as a sick brother. 2. We have all the couples like Ned and Felix, Albert and Bruce, Mickey and Gregory etc etc. These guys have fallen in love and created their own families amidst all the chaos. 3. Then we have the family that seems to have adapted from all the guys who are friends who fight together to call attention to this epidemic.
The play is set in New York City in the late 1980's right when the HIV/AIDS epidemic hit. The play centers around the Gay mens community that was impacted the most during this epidemic. We follow Ned Weeks and his lover Felix as they come into contact with this virus and it takes the lives of many of their friends.
2. What is the intrusion?
I would say that the intrusion is right when they play starts and Craig dies. This death starts the play off and prompts the conversation around HIV/AIDS. This then connects Dr. Emma and Ned who is our main character and just so happens to be in the office waiting room when Craig comes in first for a check up and then later brought in by his lover Bruce for his sudden health decline and eventual death. After this dramatic situation unfolds Dr. Emma asks Ned to be a sort of spokesperson for the Gay community surrounding this epidemic. It is her hope that once the men are educated about these perils they will stop having sex and therefore stop transmitting this disease. She does not know what causes it but rightfully thinks it is transmitted through sex. Once Craig dies Bruce joins forces with Ned and other members of their scene to create an organization that raises funds, awareness, and promotes information surrounding this disease.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Ned Weeks reaches out to Dr. Emma to talk to her about the Times article he read about concerning HIV/AIDS. He comes to her office to gather more information about the epidemic but comes out a spokesman. His connection to Dr. Emma prompts the start of the story.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
-Will felix live?
-Will the Governor finally acknowledge the epidemic?
- Will this get under control?
-Will Emma get her research funded?
-Will the Gay community recover?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
1.) Known to many- The Gay community is not considered important by the rest of the community and therefore is ignored when they have an epidemic happening in it.
2. Known to a few- HIV/AIDS is transmitted through sex.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I would say the play is extremely theatrical throughout the entirety. If I had to choose a most theatrical moment I would pin point two moments. The first would be when Bruce rushes in with Craig as he is dying at the very beginning of the play. The second most theatrical moment I would name is Felix's demise at the end of the play. They do not say he is dead but the reader is left open to understand that is what happens. It destroys the reader because of Ned's struggle and sadness that will come from it. He has worked so hard for so long for this cause and finally finds love and then loses it to this epidemic he has fought so hard against seemingly alone.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Diversity, Sexuality, Love, friendship, family relationships, voices, courage, bravery, death, disease, AIDS, New York, friendship, etc
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
Ned wants his friends to be okay. He does not want to die and he does not want to watch anyone else die. He also wants to find love and live a happy life. The things that get in the way are the death of Felix and his friends. The other guys inability to believe that something is being transmitted through sex and peoples refusal to change their ways to stay safe. In this situation it seems there is "Me against myself" and "Me against the universe."
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
"The Normal Heart" Is the title of the play. I think this is a direct response to how the gay community was treated during this time. A big thing that was discussed throughout the play was that gay men showed each other love through sex. They identified with the ability to be sexually free because for so long they had to be ashamed and shy of their sexuality. Ned is confronted by Felix in the play who basically says no one is unable to love. People just tell themselves they are not worthy or cannot love. I think Ned finds that this is true and finds himself falling in love with Felix. He is not just being sexually free he actually develops a connection with him. At the same time this is happening the world is telling him that he is wrong for loving another man. His brother looks down on him. The governor will not meet with them or proclaim a state of emergency over the HIV epidemic. Ronald Reagan refuses to talk about anything gay. No one will write about the epidemic and no one will help them. This title helps us understand his mindset of "I am normal." Ned told his brother numerous times how he wanted Ben Weeks to be able to look at him as an equal. He wanted people to look at him as not being sick just as being himself. "The normal heart" states just what he is. He might be gay but he has a normal heart just like everyone else. He loves and bleeds just like everyone else.
Some important images are
1. Hearts.
2. Their acronym- so many guys were afraid to use the whole name of their organization on the letter head but then when they switch to the acronym their letters would not get accepted by the post office.
3. The purple lesions and that cancer that spread and infects everyone he is close to.
4. The $2,000,000.00 mansion Ben Weeks is building but he will not help his brother fight this cause.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
There are a couple of family relationships that are explored.
1. We have Ned and Ben weeks who have a close yet strained relationship from Ben's inability to accept Ned as an equal instead of as a sick brother.
2. We have all the couples like Ned and Felix, Albert and Bruce, Mickey and Gregory etc etc. These guys have fallen in love and created their own families amidst all the chaos.
3. Then we have the family that seems to have adapted from all the guys who are friends who fight together to call attention to this epidemic.